The Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday. It was a bit of a surprising decision after he was allowed to conduct their end-of-season press conference on Monday. After mulling the decision for roughly two days, owner Mark Davis and general manager Tom Telesco decided to let Pierce go.
The 4-13 rebuilding Raiders did not underachieve with Pierce throughout 2024. Though they eventually reached the conclusion that change was necessary, Pierce wasn't given a fair shake with the Raiders. Nonetheless, Davis and Telesco will now oversee the process of appointing his successor.
An opportunity to lead one of the league's most historic franchises awaits the candidates. We've identified three potential options.
Mike Vrabel
The Raiders will certainly make their pitch to Mike Vrabel, this hiring cycle's hottest coaching candidate. Vrabel's old-time pal Tom Brady is a partial owner of the franchise. Together, they won three Super Bowls together with the New England Patriots. Brady possesses a ton of his respect for his former teammate, and his recommendation will be heard by Davis and Telesco.
Can the Raiders truly convince Vrabel though? The Patriots, who Vrabel captured all those Lombardis with, also have a vacancy. The Patriots have a franchise quarterback in waiting in Drake Maye, more cap space, and an earlier selection in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Raiders are facing an uphill battle if he's their preferred candidate.
Liam Coen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen should be a front-running candidate. Coen helped lead a Buccaneers offense during the regular season that scored a fourth-best 29.5 points per contest en route to winning their division. Quarterback Baker Mayfield finished second in passing touchdowns (41) and third in yards (4,500). Mayfield is performing like a legitimate MVP candidate in his offense.
The Raiders will be tasked with identifying a new long-term starting quarterback this offseason. They'll want the proper head coach in place to oversee that decision, and if it's a rookie QB, his development. Coen has a lengthy resume that even includes having Will Levis play like a first-round signal-caller at Kentucky. Coen also worked under Sean McVay, deriving from one of the most notable coaching trees in the league right now.
Brian Flores
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has done an outstanding job rehabilitating his reputation. The ugly truth is Flores' first tenure as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins went poorly. He struggled to appoint offensive coordinators and eventually alienated himself from his coaching staff, unknowingly fostering a Game of Thrones-like environment before his dismissal.
Flores had to humble himself, and he recharged his image while coaching an outstanding Vikings defense this season. Brady and Flores have a relationship dating back to their shared days with the Patriots. Brady could recommend the former Bill Belichick pupil as a potential candidate. He's earned another opportunity to lead an NFL club, whether that happens in Vegas or elsewhere.
